It's time to separate the sponsor from the sport

Much like the movement to save the Arctic, Grand Prix fans are made up of all sorts of people. I would know — I was a big fan of the sport growing up. Is it possible that a lifelong environmental and social justice activist can harbor a secret love of racing? I’d like to think we embrace diversity in the movement and celebrate different points of view. In fact, I bet there are plenty of environmentalists in the grandstands at the F1 today, just as there are many secret F1 fans in Greenpeace!

My interest in F1 started way back when I had a roommate who absolutely loved it — she would sometimes get up at 2 o'clock in the morning just to watch it. And before long, she got me hooked, too. So I can certainly respect the technology, sportsmanship and innovation that are at the heart of the Formula One Grand Prix.

But what I can’t respect is what the sponsor of the event, Shell, is doing to the Arctic. Far from a legacy of victory, Shell has been leading the race for extreme fossil fuels all over the world, from fracking in my home country of South Africa, to spilling oil in the Niger Delta, to devastating Indigenous communities in Canada’s tar sands and — last but not least — risking everything to get at the oil that the melting Arctic is opening up.

Shell has proven time and again that it will cut the most dangerous corners in the race for the last drops of oil on the planet.

But while Shell is accelerating into a hairpin turn with faulty brakes, the rest of us are in a different kind of race — the race to protect the Arctic from an oil spill that would devastate this fragile region. Every driver knows that oil on the track spells disaster; an oil spill in the Arctic would be catastrophic.

Scientists are telling us that the Arctic is spinning out of control. As the planet warms, the ice melts, and Shell and other companies move in to drill for more of the oil, which warms the planet, which melts the ice. It’s a vicious circle, insanity and greed at its very worst, and we have to stop it.

All life on earth relies on the Arctic ice sheet to stabilise the global climate by reflecting the sun’s heat back into space — without it, we are facing a very different world. That is why in the last year, nearly four million people from all over the world have joined the movement to save the Arctic, and to stand up to Shell and the other companies gunning for a piece of the pie.

This is not the kind of business that earns a company a spot on the podium. But together we can make sure the truth of Shell's dirty Arctic dealings gets out there.

Join us in sending a message to Shell that the Arctic is not its test track. Tell Shell that you can love F1 and polar bears, too. If we work together, we canSave the Arctic and avert catastrophic climate change.

So it is OK to waste fuel by driving around a track like a mad thing? Greenpeace endorses cars and fossil fuel use as long as it is not from Shell?? I...

So it is OK to waste fuel by driving around a track like a mad thing? Greenpeace endorses cars and fossil fuel use as long as it is not from Shell?? If this is what we get from Greenpeace, it is not just the Arctic that is doomed. Massively disappointing.

Why SO disappointed ??? What you were waiting to get from this organisation ??? This organsisation is just one great parody of adrenalin junkies !!!!...

Why SO disappointed ??? What you were waiting to get from this organisation ??? This organsisation is just one great parody of adrenalin junkies !!!! They accuse Russia for being non democratic, violant, polluting.............and at same time they refer to President Putin as one of their experts!!!! "Asslicking" as they are he now even is Dr. Vladimir Putin !!! Putin himself NEVER uses this title.......but in GP regie this might give plus points !!???

They talk about polluting oil industry, in this case Gazprom and Shell !!! Where do they get their fuel from ?? Diesel for this polluting Sunrise vessel and even worse patrol for their 2-stroke engined powerboats leading exhaustion directly to water.......... Imagine a poor whale and it youngsters just swimming under these attack vessels............ poor animal !!! Save the whales !!!

I find it amazing to write on these sites !! GP is coming with one after other big bombastic statements about their heroic actions ...........but they are NOT willing to answer just one of the VERY simple questions I have asked here !!!
Instead they continue with their usual "phrases", same brain dead talking like Whitnesses of Jehova, Scientology or home sellers from ACN..............

Over 1 million people have send a pre-fabricated GP SPAM mail to russian Embassies !!!! Do...

I nearly cannot stop laughing ...............

Over 1 million people have send a pre-fabricated GP SPAM mail to russian Embassies !!!! Do you really believe in this bullshit ??? Do you really think that Russian Embassies have received and even read these NOTHING saying mails ????

They have arranged a SPAM-filter and all this rubbish is going directly to waste paper basket !!!!! :-)

I really admire your great naivity !!!! International organised under the colors of a rainbow...............

Do ALL these naive "protesters" who think they are sending pre-fabricated SPAM-mails from Greenpeace to &...

Amazing to see !!!!

Do ALL these naive "protesters" who think they are sending pre-fabricated SPAM-mails from Greenpeace to "their" russian Embassy know and agree that their names and country is posted for ALL public on Greenpeace web site ???

Amazing to see the countries where they are coming from........... :-)

It really is intersting to see the list of "rescentsigners" on GP web site.............. amazing to see the nationalities !!! Lot of people...

It really is intersting to see the list of "rescentsigners" on GP web site.............. amazing to see the nationalities !!! Lot of people from Italy, they just now treat refugees from Africa like shit !!! Lot of people from Brasil, Turkey, Greece...........
Really amazing to see how many people are worrying about the Arctic and send prefabricated Spam mails to "their" russian Embassy. I only wonder I do not see any person from Arctic region which might have reason to be worried about oil drilling in Arctic!!!

But I think for Greenpeace it does not matter..............if only they can announce some quantity of idiots who send this pre-fabricated rubbish and think they will change anything by this. Better buy a flight ticket to Murmansk and be present during Cout session !!! Could Greenpeace give some statistics about countries from where these messages are send ??? I think they will NOT !!!!!

Instead of sending useless Spam mails................. would it not be better if "millions" of followers would attend Session in Court in Murmansk and russian authorities would have problem to find place for all the people who want free the "Arctic30" ???

At first you have to apply for a visa, then you can book flight f.ex. at areoflot.ru for really reasonable prices.............. :-)

Maybe few hundred of protesters in Court would have more effect than MILLIONS of stupid pre-fabricated e-mails ending in waste paper basket at Russian Embassyes around the world !!???

Yesterday they used a picture on their web sites............ A policecar from Moscow with an "i...

This Greenpeace is just AMAZING !!!!

Yesterday they used a picture on their web sites............ A policecar from Moscow with an "icebear" on backseat. This guy was arrested by Police and Greenpeace puts their stupid logo: Free the arctic 30's....... and we again have a nice and touching story !!!!

Now this picture is removed..........you know why ????

This guy wanted to protest AGAINST Greenpeace with a banner "We need ecologists.........NOT eco-terrorists !!!"

Police re-moved him from this tremendous GP-session to avoid any confrontation with the thousands of GP-activists and supporters.............
That is the real story life from Moscow...............not your GP fairy tales............ :-)

Urbeingaboof for 1 måned siden
I am confused, did Greenpeace use sails, oars or fuel in their ocean going vessel. Better get themselves some canoes or kayaks. I Respect there rights and dreams to want a cleaner world. It would be amazing, but maybe don't spend your resources on a ship and the fuel to get to those places and use it to put someone in government or something. "Hey Oil companies piss off outta the ocean, but thanks for the fuel. Just﻿ filled up this huge ass boat." Well done Mother Russia love from a Canadian
Svar · 29

iwantoutnow for 2 uger siden
Well done Russia, Greenpeace pseudo activists work﻿ for the American government trying to sabotage companies, organizations or governments, etc. Greenpeace is a bunch of idiots that the less thing they care is the environment !
100 years jail for those pirates.

I just read at german Greenfleece site that the Netherlands have taken case to Internatioanl Maritim Court in Hamburg......... GREAT decison............

I just read at german Greenfleece site that the Netherlands have taken case to Internatioanl Maritim Court in Hamburg......... GREAT decison...........it might take 4 weeks before there is an answer.................. So I actually hope these GP eco-terrorits ger free from prison 1 week before they have to come back to Russia to attend Court Session. This flying activity also will NOT pollute the arctic............. They buy petrol from BP !!!!